Santa Monica launches new jazz festival this weekend

Santa Monica is bringing jazz to the beach with the city's inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival.

The festival will take place from Friday, May 1 through May 9 at various venues throughout the city and will include internationally known artists, emerging musicians and tributes honoring legends like John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

"When I was very young, I started playing jazz festivals across Europe and beyond, and I realized something early on," said Grammy Award winning bassist Stanley Clarke, the festival organizer, in a statement. "America is the birthplace of jazz, but we didn't have many festivals that felt like those great international gatherings such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival in Canada or the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Those weren't just concerts - the entire city transformed. There was art everywhere, music in the streets, people traveling in from all over. I always felt Santa Monica deserved that kind of experience.”

Some events are free while others require tickets. The venues include The Third Street Promenade on Sunday, May 3, the BroadStage at 1310 11th St. on May 8, Tongva Park at 1615 Ocean Ave. on May 9 and it kicks off outside the city on Friday, May 1 with a preview event at The Orpheum Theatre at 842 S. Broadway, Downtown Los Angeles.

For more information and for tickets go to smjazzfest.com.

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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 10:35 AM.